November 14, 2008

MILWAUKEE, Nov. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Association of Health Education Centers (NAHEC) is pleased and proud to present Marcy Coppernoll with the 2008 Outstanding Health Educator and to honor LearntobeHealthy.org with the 2008 Richard B. Rush Award for Outstanding Innovation by a Health Education Center.

Marcy Coppernoll, RN, Curriculum Director at Hult Health Education Center of Peoria, Illinois received her BS in Nursing from Milliken University and her MS in Health Education from Illinois State University. She has been dedicated to improving children's lives through health education for 36 years. As Curriculum Director for the Hult Health Education Center, Coppernoll developed and integrated new technologies and teaching methods across the curriculum. "Marcy is a dynamic instructor helping children understand and relate health information to their lives," said Joe Knapp, Executive Director of the Hult Health Education Center. "She is loved by students and respected by teachers and parents."

The 2008 Richard B. Rush Award for Outstanding Innovation by a Health Education Center was awarded to LearntobeHealthy.org, an educational portal developed by the Susan P. Byrnes Health Education Center of York, PA. LearntobeHealthy.org is a free online, standards-based, health science learning portal designed to help educators and parents communicate important health concepts to students. The educational portal contains comprehensive lesson plans, interactive games and activities, web quests and more. Students in grades K-12 can learn important information about keeping their bodies healthy through fun, interactive games and activities.

"At a time when our nation is struggling with health literacy leading to increased healthcare costs and preventable illness, it is a thrill to be able to acknowledge the people focused on reversing these trends," noted David Midland, NAHEC Executive Director. "It is truly an honor to recognize the staff at the Susan P. Byrnes Center and Mary Coppernoll for their work and dedication."

To learn more about these awards or the recipients, please visit http://www.nahec.org/.

About the National Association of Health Education Centers (NAHEC)

Established in 1989, the National Association of Health Education Centers (NAHEC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and promoting a national network of organizations that provide health education programs. Through this network, over 3.9 million children and adults receive health education that empowers them to actively participate in creating healthier communities. For more information about the National Association of Health Education Centers, visit http://www.nahec.org/.